Shandao Pagoda, Xiangji Temple, Xi'an, Shaanxi

This pagoda (塔) holds the remains of Shandao (善导), a patriarch (祖) of the Pure Land Sect (淨土宗), at Xiangji Temple (香积寺), Xi'an, Shaanxi (陕西, 西安市).

Kumarajiva's Tongue Relic Pavilion, Caotang Temple, Xi'an, Shaanxi

This pavilion (阁) holds a relic (舍利子) said to be the tongue of Kumarajiva (鸠摩罗什) at Caotang Temple (草堂寺), Xi'an, Shaanxi (陕西, 西安市).

Buddha Fragment, Jingye Temple, Xi'an, Shaanxi

Fragment of a panel featuring a Buddha (佛), now on the small altar (坛) in the Guest Hall (客堂) at Jingye Temple (净业寺), Xi'an, Shaanxi (陕西, 西安市).

Twin Pagodas, Huayan Temple, Xi'an, Shaanxi

These two pagodas (塔) are all that remain of the five that were dedicated to the first five patriarchs (祖) of the Avatamsaka or Huayan Sect (华严宗) at Huayan Temple (华严寺) south of Xi'an, Shaanxi (陕西, 西安市).

Interior of Xuanzang Hall, Xingjiao Temple, Xi'an, Shaanxi

Interior of a hall (殿) dedicted to Xuanzang (玄奘) at Xingjiao Temple (兴教寺), Xi'an, Shaanxi (陕西, 西安市). The hall includes jade panels depicting his life, and shows him life-sized and flanked by his chief disciples Kuiji (窥基) and Yuance (the Korean monk Woncheuk=圆测).

Nursing Mother Goddess, Fenghuang Shan Temple, Shenzhen, Guangdong

This wet nurse (奶妈 or 乳母) is one of twelve companions to Jinhua Furen (金花夫人), a Taoist (道教) goddess of childbirth sometimes found in Buddhist temples that have been converted from Taoist ones, like Fenghuang Shan Temple (凤凰山寺) in Shenzhen, Guangdong (广东, 深圳市).

Hanshan and Shide, Hanshan Temple, Suzhou, Jiangsu

Hanshan (寒山) and Shide (拾得) were great friends, and their joyous friendship is commemorated on an altar at busy Hanshan Temple (寒山寺) in Suzhou, Jiangsu  (江苏, 苏州市)

Hall and Pagoda, Lingyanshan Temple, Suzhou, Jiangsu

The delicate pagoda (塔) peeks past the Main Hall (大雄宝殿) in this view of Lingyanshan Temple (灵岩山寺) in western Suzhou, Jiangsu (江苏, 苏州市)

Mountain Gate, Yushan Xingfu Temple, Changshu, Jiangsu

I enjoyed seeing these two old men seated in the Mountain Gate (山门) at Yushan Xingfu Temple (虞山兴福寺) in Changshu, Jiangsu (江苏, 常熟市)
 

Turtle Pond, Xiyuan Temple, Suzhou, Jiangsu, Jiangsu

Pond (池) said to be the home of two 400-year-old turtles (龟) in the West Garden (西园) of Xiyuan Jiechuang Temple (西园戒幢寺) in Suzhou, Jiangsu (江苏, 苏州市)
 

Courtyard, Guangjiao Temple, Nantong, Jiangsu

A small courtyard (院) on the hill near Guangjiao Temple (广教寺) in Nantong, Jiangsu (江苏, 南通市)
 

Maitreya in Front of Pagoda, Tianning Temple, Changzhou, Jiangsu

Statue of Maitreya (弥勒) in front of the huge pagoda (塔) at Tianning Temple (天宁寺) in Changzhou, Jiangsu (江苏, 常州市)
 

Master Jianzhen, Daming Temple, Yangzhou, Jiangsu

Statue of Master Jianzhen (鉴真大师) given by Japanese devotees (日本的居士) to Daming Temple (大明寺) in Yangzhou, Jiangsu (江苏, 扬州市)

Altar, Master Xingyun's Birthplace, Jiangdu, Jiangsu

Altar (坛​) in a home said to be at or near the birthplace (出生地) of Master Xingyun (星云大师), Jiangdu, Jiangsu (江苏, 江都区)

Compound from Pagoda, Gaoming Temple, Yangzhou, Jiangsu

The main compound (大院) seen from the top of the pagoda (塔) at Gaoming Temple (高旻寺), Yangzhou, Jiangsu (江苏, 扬州市)
 

Gate and Pagoda, Jiaoshan Dinghui Temple, Zhenjiang, Jiangsu

The gateway near the dock (码头) and a pagoda (塔) on the hill on the island of Jiaoshan Dinghui Temple (焦山定慧寺), Zhenjiang, Jiangsu (江苏, 镇江市)

Ordination Platform, Longchang Temple, Jurong, Jiangsu

An ordination platform (戒台) at Longchang Temple (隆昌寺) in Jurong, Jiangsu (江苏, 句容市). Monks (和尚) have shaved (削发) here for generations.

Monk Fahai, Jinshan Jiangtian Temple, Zhenjiang, Jiangsu

The monk Fahai (法海) seated in his own cave. Fahai is said to have discovered gold on Jinshan in Zhenjiang, Jiangsu (江苏, 镇江市) where Jiangtian Temple (金山江天寺) is located.

Three Saints, Linggu Temple, Nanjing, Jiangsu

The Three Saints or Sages of the Western Pure Land (西方三圣) at Linggu Temple (灵谷寺) in Nanjing, Jiangsu (江苏, 南京市).

Buddha and Arhats, Qixia Temple, Nanjing, Jiangsu

The Buddha (佛) and Arhats (罗汉) in the grottoes behind Qixia Temple (栖霞寺) in Nanjing, Jiangsu (江苏, 南京市). You can clearly see that the heads, replaced after vandalism, are a different color.

Beamless Hall, Langya Temple, Chuzhou, Anhui

The Beamless Hall (无梁殿) at Langya Temple (琅琊寺) in Chuzhou, Anhui (安徽, 滁州市) is one of the many attractive sights on this mountaintop temple. It was built in the Ming Dynasty.

Platform, Mingjiao Temple, Hefei, Anhui

Mingjiao Temple (明教寺) in Hefei, Anhui (安徽, 合肥市) is built on a platform (台) which, it is said, was once used by General Cao Cao for reviewing troops. It now stands on a pedestrian street in a busy shopping area.

Three of the 24 Devas, Guangji Temple, Wuhu, Anhui

There are 24 Devas (天王) in an upper hall at Guangji Temple (广济寺) in Wuhu, Anhui (安徽, 芜湖市); these are three of them. The temple focuses on Kshitigarbha Bodhisattva (地藏菩萨), whose hall is nearby. 

Stone over Altar, Guanyinshan Temple, Shenzhen, Guangdong

The stone over the altar (祭坛) at Guanyinshan Temple (观音山寺) in Shenzhen, Guangdong (广东, 深圳市) juts out from a hillside like a giant Frisbee. It was probably this natural feature, plus a nearby spring, that attracted temple-builders to the site.

Kshitigarbha Bodhisattva, Dongshan Temple, Shenzhen, Guangdong

Kshitigarbha (地藏菩萨) is the Bodhisattva who promises to save all beings from Hell. This is one of the few Buddhist statues at Dongshan Temple (东山寺), in Shenzhen, Guangdong (广东, 深圳市), which is being converted from a Taoist temple.

The Ascetic Shakyamuni, Baoguang Temple, Chengdu, Sichuan

The Ascetic Shakyamuni (禁欲的释迦牟尼) at Baoguang Temple (宝光寺), Chengdu, Sichuan (四川, 成都市), is a carved panel showing the Buddha-to-be when he mistakenly thought that mortifying the body would lead to enlightenment.

Big Buddha, Leshan, Sichuan

The Big Buddha (大佛) at Leshan, Sichuan (四川, 乐山市), built in the Tang Dynasty, is said to be the largest Buddha statue in the world. It stands 71 metres (233 feet) tall, and is carved into a cliff above a river.

Skanda-Kumara, Wuyou Temple, Leshan, Sichuan

Skanda-Kumara (塞建那) rides a peacock (孔雀) in the entry to the 500 Arhats' Hall (五百罗汉殿) at Wuyou Temple (乌尤寺) in Leshan, Sichuan (四川, 乐山市), near the state of the Great Buddha of Leshan.

Screen Wall, Zhaojue Temple, Chengdu, Sichuan

The Screen Wall (照壁) at Zhaojue Temple (昭觉寺) in Chengdu, Sichuan (四川, 成都市) has a Dharma Wheel (法轮) on it. Above are two of the six letters in the phrase "Namo Amitofo" (南无阿弥陀佛) meaning "Homage to Amitabha Buddha," the central Buddha in Pure Land (净土) practice.

Rakshasa, Wenshu Yuan, Chengdu, Sichuan

A rakshasa (罗刹) or demon is crushed under the foot of Virudhaka (增长天王) in the Heavenly Kings' Hall (天王殿) at Wenshu Yuan (文殊院) in Chengdu, Sichuan (四川, 成都市). These figures represent the "crushing" of unhelpful desires. They also sometimes serve to hold up the unsupported leg of a statue.

Two Buddhas, Xingguochan Temple, Ji'nan, Shandong

Two Buddhas (佛), seen in the grottoes (石窟) at Xingguochan Temple (兴国禅寺) on Qianfo Shan (千佛山) in Ji'nan, Shandong (山东, 济南市).